Switching antipsychotics to aripiprazole or blonanserin and plasma monoamine metabolites levels in patients with schizophrenia
Publication Date
2014
Journal Title
Hum Psychopharmacol
Abstract
ObjectiveBlonanserin is a novel atypical antipsychotic drug that has efficacy equal to risperidone. We investigated the effects of aripiprazole and blonanserin on clinical symptoms and plasma levels of homovanillic acid (pHVA) and 3-methoxy-4hydroxyphenylglycol in the switching strategy of schizophrenia. MethodsTwenty two Japanese patients with schizophrenia were enrolled into this open study. The antipsychotics of all patients were switched to aripiprazole or blonanserin for the improvement of clinical symptoms or side effects. Plasma monoamine metabolites levels were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography. ResultsThere were no significant effects for time (p=0.346) or timexgroup interaction (p=0.27) on the changes of positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) total score, although blonanserin decreased PANSS scores. We observed negative correlation between pHVA at baseline and the change in PANSS total score (rs=-0.450, p=0.046). We also found positive correlation between the changes in pHVA and the changes in PANSS total (rs=0.536, p=0.015) and positive (rs=0.572, p=0.008) scores. ConclusionsThere were no differences between blonanserin and aripiprazole in the improvement of clinical symptoms. Our results suggest that pHVA may be useful indicator for the switching strategy to aripiprazole or blonanserin in schizophrenia. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Volume Number
29
Issue Number
2
Pages
199-202
Document Type
Article
Status
Northwell Researcher
Facility
Northwell Health
Primary Department
Psychiatry
PMID
DOI
10.1002/hup.2386